Rivers and “several other Chargers” went directly to owner Dean Spanos to make the case to keep Turner, according to NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora. It’s not a stretch to say Rivers’ words and actions may have saved Turner’s gig.

“Philip has a great relationship with one of the best coaches he could possibly have,” Spanos said. “You can build your whole team around that relationship.”

We still don’t understand the decision, even after Spanos’ interview with Florio Tuesday. San Diego’s great play at the end of the season just proved how the team underachieved this season. Just like they did last year. If their six-game losing streak came later in the year, Turner would almost certainly be gone.

But all the losses should count equally, no matter when they happen. The team badly underachieved again.

Turner does work with Rivers very well. But Rivers is talented enough to work with a lot of good coaches. His loyalty is admirable, but it could cost him a chance to win big in 2012.

“If I knew [I saved Turner’s job], I wouldn’t tell you,” Rivers told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “If I believe in something, I wouldn’t feel good if I didn’t [say it]. I didn’t do it to just defend the coach.”

I can’t help but recognize the uncanny resemblance between the chargers and the cowboys. Two teams filled with talent that should be in the play offs every year but continue to disappoint and lose to lesser opponents.

There’s also something else that might have saved Turner’s ass from being fired: there was a report from Mike Francesa yesterday that said Lurie called the Chargers and said “stay away from my coach (Reid)”. So to the Charger fans out there: I’m sorry my team’s stupidity caused your owner to do something stupid.

Unless he greatly improves his passing ability (without staring at his target), we will be going no where…..
on the bright side we should have a real good chance at having next years number one draft pick….possibly joining the lions in a perfect 0-16 season…

Norv Turner is an awesome play caller. The schemes he puts out there to get big plays in screen and vertical game. Sometimes he’s can be conservative but I think the problem is how many defensive draft picks worked out for them. Besides Phillips where has the pass rush come from? I don’t follow them enough to know who their coordinator on D is now but they lost a pretty good one that’s coaching in Carolina. AJ Smith is the man that had to go.

I am probably the only one on here who will defend the Chargers, but I think they made the right move…it seemed to me that the players are the ones to blame for their failures. I thought that the coaching was good enough if the players could go out and execute and capitalize but they couldn’t. It is a theme with these players whether it’s Marty or Norv…

I do have questions for the GM Smith though as the talent on the defensive side of the ball isn’t good enough. Also, we had Manusky in SF for a few years and I couldn’t stand him. The secondary was never well prepared. That is probably on Norv, but maybe Smith?

I cannot beleive in my wildest NFL dreams that SD would keep Turner. He doesn’t play to win as much as he plays not to lose. He was lucky the team had the record it did this year. He sucks big time.
Obviously the owner is in love with the guy and he is the only vote that counts.

Spanos is just paying out the contracts to Turner and Smith, and riding it out in as low-cost mediocre way possible until he can pull the trigger on the L.A. move.

Minnesota is not going to let the Vikings go anywhere, and it looks more likely the Jags are staying where they are… L.A. Chargers has a nice ring to it. They are getting nowhere with a stadium deal here in San Diego. The fans are mostly sick of this team…

I’m sad for the Chargers fans, as this really bites, but I think they are headed to L.A. for the big bucks.

Being friends with Peyton Manning didn’t save Bill Polian’s job. In fact, the Colts owner didn’t even bother to tell Manning that he was firing his buddy Polian. Spanos is just too cheap to upgrade the quality of coaching and management of his team by 1.) eating the contracts of Turner and Smith and 2.) probably paying more to the men who replace them. Fisher would probably ask for twice the $3M they are paying Turner.

“If their six-game losing streak came later in the year, Turner would almost certainly be gone.” Perhaps Spanos was smart enough to consider that during that six game losing streak the
Chargers offensive line was full of third stringers, and guys compromised by injury. Just maybe there is some correlation between the wins at the end of the season and an O line being healthier.